Improved machine for eenovating feathers



3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' J. S. PEASLEY.

Feather Renovator.

Patented Oct. 22, 1867.

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'gnitrh gram; gaunt JOHN S. PEASLEY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND;

Letters Patent No. 70,11'0, dated 01.401107 22, 1867.

IMPRO VBD MACHINE FOR RENOVATING FEATHERS.

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so ALI. WHOit IT MAY oouonnn:

Be it known that I, JOHN S. PEASLEY, of the city and county of Providence, and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines or Apparatus for Renovating Feathers of the dcscrip tibnus ed in beds, pillows, &c,, & c.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which-- Figural is a front elevation of my improved apparatus,with one-half of the cylinder A removed (as is intended) in order to show the interior arrangement of the same.

Figure 2 is an end elevatiotrof the said apparatus.

Figure 3 is a plan of the same with one-half of the cylinder A removed as above, in fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a section of-one of the steam pipes G with a coupling, to admit of its detachment from the others for the purpose hereinafter named.

Similar letters indicate correspondingparts in all the figures.

' The said apparatus consists of a cylinder, A, of sheet metal, mounted in a framework, 13, on trunnions, s .9, at the centre of each end, upon whichsaid cylinder may swing or partially rotate when desired. ,The said cylinder is also made in two pieces, dividing it lengthwise through the centre, for the sake of greater convenience in removing it from place to place, and for its passage through narrow doors. The two parts should be made to fit each other nicely at the edges where they are united, or otherwise beprovidcd with a suitable packing at the edges, so as to render the place ofjoiningsteam-tight, and the two parts may be secured together by means of stout hooks, C C, at each end. The cylinder is also provided with a suitable door, I), fitting nicely, or provided with packing to render it steam-tight, for the admission and removal, of the feathers, the door swinging on hinges at 72, and being secured by a button, d, pr other fastening. In the barrel of the cylinder there is a number of openings, I, covered with wire netting, to prevent the feathers from escaping thereat, and these openings are covered tightly upon the outside by strips or battens of wood, E E, extending lengthwise over each row of openings, and provided with suitable packing beneath next to the wire netting, and secured thereon by stout hooks, ii, at each end of the said battens. I Within the cylinder are four tubular arms, G G- G G, extending at right angles from a central shaft, S, and lengthwise of the cylinder. ..The shaft is hollow at each end, to afford a passage for the steam at one end, O, and for the escape of the same after passing through the tubular arms at the end P. .Each of the said tubular arms is provided with two or more steam-eocks,ff, the escape or opening of which is directed towards the centre of the cylinder; and one of the arms, G has a steam-cock, J, in the middle, with its opening or escape directed outwardly or from the centre of the cylinder, and is provided with a screw-nipple to receive a conducting-tube, K, that is screwed thereon when wanted, to conduct oil the water from the arms. The shaft S to which these arms are united is provided-'- at one end, 0, with a gear, T, meshing into another gear, V, in the framework, which has a hand-crank, N, by means of which the shaft and the tubular arms are revolved within the cylinder.

The apparatus being thus constructed, the operation is, that the feathers, generally the contents of ,a single bed, are introduced through the door of the cylinder, and the several steam-cocks ff opened, and the door shut and secured, when the steam is admitted to the tubular arms, and said arms are revolved rapidly in the feathers for fifteen minutes or upwards, sufficiently to thoroughly heat and expand the feathers with dry steam, 2. 6., steam without water. Then the steam is shut off, the door is opened, and the several steam-cocks ff are closed; the door is again shut, and steam is again admitted to the tubular arms, and the same revolved rapidlyy'as before, for the space of fifteen minutes or upwards, suiiieiently to thoroughly dry the feathers. During this latter operation the several battens E are removed from the "screens I or openings in the cylinder, to permit the vapor from the drying feathers to escape and to produce a circulation of air within the cylinder. After I the feathers have become dry they are removed from the cylinder and the battens again secured in their place.

ready to repeat the operations upon another quantity of feathers. Should water accumulate by condensation in the tubular arms, the door of the cylinder is swung down and the conducting pipe K is screwed upon the nipple of the steam-cock J, which is then opened and the water drawnoff from or blown off by the introduction of steam to the said tubes.

For the sake of convenience in the removal of the machine, and for the passage ofits parts through narrow doorways of the apartment wherein it is to be operated, one of the tubular arms is provid'edat each end with a coupling, such, for instance, as is shown at W, in fig. 4, so that one of the said arms may be readily removed or disconnected from the shaft S, and the remaining arms, occupying no more space than'one-half of the said cylinder, thcy may be carried through the same doorway, it being understood that a cylinder and its tubular arms, such as are above described, are of such a size, to receive the contents of a single bed, as to prevent its being carried through a doorway of ordinary width, and hence the construction, as described, to provide for this difficulty.

Having thus described the construction and operation of my said machine, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Constructing the cylinder for holding the feathers to be renovated in two parts, with means for uniting and securing the same together, substantially: as and for the purpose specified. i

2. I claim combining with a cylinder for the purpese specified, or an equivalent receptacle, a number'of netted openings, 1, and suitable battens, E, or coverings therefor, with suitable means for securing the same, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. I claiirr'thc tubular arms,constructedsubstantially as described, and provided with a number ofisteameocks,f f, the whole being arranged with suitable means for introducing steam thereto, and through the same into the cylinder and among the feathers therein, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

4. I claim the steam-cock J, in combination with the said tubular arms and a suitable conducting pipe, K,

as described and for the purpose specified.

5. I claim connecting one of the tubular arms G to the shaft in such a manner, by means of a coupling or equivalent device, that the said arm may be readily detached from the shaft, as described, for the purpose specified. I

' JOHN S. PEASLEY.

Witnesses:

IsAAeA BROWNELL,

Amos A. MOULTON. 

